Yesterday I went to listen to a profound talk on the Buddhist perspective on Anxiety and Depression at the Sky Island Unitarian Church. If we think about how depression feels, it is a rejection of what is going on for us, whether it is internal or external in origin. We are resisting with an inner “no!” Then we send a second arrow to the heart by rejecting ourselves for being depressed. This can easily become a habit of depression, but I learned some ways to help myself out when the storm of sadness or despair hits. I can direct joyful effort to look for the “no,” oppose it with acceptance, and take a larger picture perspective.
Since depression is a tight emotion focused on me, if I take any step at all to bring my focus back to others it will help me feel better, even if it is just a thought of love and kindness. Doing a little something for someone else is even better. The key of the talk was this. We can change our minds through practice, and whenever we meditate, we are performing an action which will cause the experience of inner peace in the future. Whenever we meditate—meaning that the meditation doesn’t have to be a great or even good one. It will still help brighten my future mind and chip away at bad mental habits.
